Method of producing pictures in color



Feb. 6, 11923. 11,444,5311

' Y J. H. STEINMAN METHOD OF PRODUCING PICTURES IN COLOR Filed Jun 22, 1920 A TTO/PA/E Y.

Patented F cl). 6, 1923.

- UNITED STATES PATET men JACOB H. STEINMAN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SELECTASINE SYSTEM INC., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF PRODUCING PICTURES IN COLOR.

Application filed June 22, 1920. Serial No. 390,898.

the different colors required through a' screen, and especially to a method of masking and opening different portions or areas of the screen or series of screens assucces- I siv'e colors are applied. The prese'nt-appli-v cation is in the nature of a modification or outgrowth of Patent No. 1,254,764, dated January 24, 1918, and the following pending applications, entitled Method of delineating or reproducing pictures, etc., filed April 16, 1919, Serial No. 290,374, and Method of making multi-color" pictures, filed, April 14, 1920, Serial N 0. 373,828.

The patent referred to relates to a method of producing multi-colored pictures, designs,

etc., which consists in superimposing of col-- ors or plateau building. This produces two effects, first a multi-color picture or design;

secondly, a multi-color picture or design having embossed efiects.

The first pending application referred to relates to a method of reproducing pictures,

etc., through the use of opaque colors and screens whereby the different color areas de- 1 posited or run through a screen are permitted to join each other along marginal lines, and when so applied form a single coat or layer of adjoining colors. 49

to also relates to a method ofproducing multi-color pictures, etc., and in fact is very similar to the first pending appllcation; the only distinction between the two being that as mum latter case definite demarcations or.

key-lines are interposed between the color areas or parts thereof to produce a picture or design whichis sharply delineated or outlined. E

ferred to processes a permeable'material or screenis employed, through which the successive colorsare transferred. 'The--*'screens I employed are in certainv instances gradually masked or blocked out as the successive ool-'- 'The second pending application referred In the operation. of any of the 'above re-i applied.

ors are transferred, and the screens are in other instances successively blocked and reopened. The present invention may be employed in con unction with any one of the several' processes referred to as it only relates to a method of treating the permeable material and screens employed to permit the different color areas to be readily masked out or reopened where and whenever required. The invention more specifically stated consists in employing a plurality of selective masking materials, each soluble in its own solvent and resistant to the solvents of all others. For instance, glueysoluble in water, may be employed; varnish soluble in turpentine; shellac soluble in alcohol, etc. This method of preparing a screen permits the opening at will of any portion of the screen by applying the proper solvent, and it also permits the startin of a job. with one portion unblocked, whic after the color has been run through it and washed ofl', may

be blocked out with the same masking material which has been dissolved from the next color area selected to be run. This permits shifting of the blocking materials from one color area to another asthe colors are applied and it also permits a job to be re-run at anytime in any order by starting with the last color previously run which remains open in the screen.

The method will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view of an original multi-colored sketch or master pattern tob'e-repro duced.

Fig. 2 is a View of the screen, showing the master pattern traced, photographed or otherwise reproduced thereon.

Fig. 3 is a view of the card before any color is applied.

Fig. 4 is a similar view color applied.

Fig. 5 shows the green color applied. Fig. 6 shows a brown color.

. Fig. 7 shows the last color, low, applied, and the reproducing operation completed.

Fig. 8 is a perspective ofthe stencil or screen frame through which the colors are showing ablue In conducting the present method ,of transferrmg colors when reproducing multilor pictures, designs, etc., a screen or which is yeltightly stretched bolting cloth or other suitable permeable material is employed. This and reopened as the different colors are ap-T plied.

There are several masking materials that may be employed, among which maybe mentioned, glue, varnish, shellac, collodion, celluloid enamel, and other substances. These masking materials are soluble in different degrees and in different substances,

some being soluble in one thing and not in another, thus glue is soluble in' water, varnish in turpentine, and not in water, and shellac in alcohol, but not in water nor turpentine; this being also true of the other masking substances specified. Of course other masking materials may be employed, for instance, such as masks cutfrom paper, tissue, metal or any other material best suited for the work in hand.

For the purpose of clearly explaining the masking out method, forming the subject matter of the present invention, I will assume that a key-line or sharply defined picture is desired. The frame supporting the screen to be employed is in that instance placed over the drawing or picture to be reproduced and the outline of the picture is then traced directly upon the screen or otherwise transferred thereto. This tracing isan outline of the picture and will hereinafter be referred to as the key-line drawing. These key-lines partially or -wholly separate the several color areas of the picture and are in this instance permanently masked or blocked out so that no paint can be forced through these lined portions. The first'operation, after the outlines have been traced on the screen, is therefore that of masking out the key-lines. I will assume that shellac is employed for this purpose. The shellac is applied by a pen or a brush andthe outlines of the picture are therefore traced with shellac. The master picture to be reproduced and shown in Fig. 1, embodies five colors, to-wit, black, blue, green, yellow and brown. I will assume that the base color of the card, to which the picture is to be transferred, is black. as shown in Fig. 3, and that the key-lines of the picture are black. I therefore retain all black areas by masking these out in unison withthe key-lines when the key-lines are being blocked or masked out, for instance the word house, the trees, the smoke, the border line of the picture, etc. All of these areas are now masked out and will therefore be retained as no paint will penetrate these portions or cover the same. I will next assume that the blue color, covering the windows and the sky, is to be applied. I therefore mask out the other color areas and leave the blue area opened. I will further assume that glue is employed for the green area, varnish for the brown, and collodion for the yellow. These different areas are therefore masked out with the different masking materials specified, and all areas are therefore blocked out, except the portion registering with the blue. The cards to receive the blue color are now placed beneath the screen, one by one and the blue paint is transferred thereto by pouring a suitable quantity of paint on the screen and forcing it through the meshes of the screen by means of a flexible scraper,

commonly known as a squeegee. The color applied in this manner is forced evenly through the open meshes of the screen and will adhere to the surface of the cards. When the color blue has been applied to as many cards as desired, it is next necessary to wash the screen to remove all paint, and then to open the next area through which it is desired to apply the next color. For instance it may now be desirable to apply the green. glue and it is therefore only necessary to wash the screen in water. This dissolves out all the glue, but it does not affect the masking material covering the key-lines and other black color areas, nor the masking material covering the brown and yellow color areas. Water applied dissolves the glue and therefore opens the green area. It is however necessary to close the blue area to prevent green pain from passing therethrough and as glue was removed from the last area. it is just as feasible to employ it for closing the blue area. Glue may therefore be applied to the blue area of the screen and will mask this out and leave the green area open. The green color may now be applied to the several cards and when this has been accomplished the scren is Washed to remove the paint and the next area, for instance. brown is opened. This area is masked out with varnish and is removed by dissolving it in turpentine. The green and the brown areas are now open and the green This area is masked out with area may be closed before the brown is apyellow The brown and yellow areas are now open and as it is only desired to apply yellow, it is obvious that the area registering with the brown may be masked with collodion. The yellow color is finally transferred through the screen to all the cards and the operation of reproduction is completed as all colors requiredhave been applied.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that all areas of the screen were blocked out, except that registering with blue, and that after this color had been applied, that the successive color areas were opened and reblocked after each color run; further that the blocking material was shifted from one color area to another. .This last mentioned feature is of course not necessary but is convenient in practise as it eliminates the use of one masking material and one solvent.

The method of masking so far described covers a reproduced picture, comprising several color areas forming one layer, and each color area defined and separated by keylines. The present method of masking and reopening the screen is not limited to this particular form of picture reproduction as it is equally applicable where the color areas join each other, or where the color areas are superimposed to form embossed effects. I therefore do not wish to limit the masking operation here described to one process of picture reproduction or another as it is equally applicable to all of them.

The process of masking out and reopening the screens is important as it permits job to be re-run whenever required, and it also.

permits any color area desired to be opened without affecting any other; or in other words permits any color desired to be applied first or last as the case may be.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A method of masking permeable materials for the reproduction of muti-colored pictures or designs, which consists in transf'erring a picture to the surface of the permeable material and then masking each color area with a different material and each material soluble in adifi'erent solvent.

2. A method of maskin screens for the reproduction of multi-co ors or designs, which consists in transferring or outlining the picture upon one or more screens, and then masking each color area'with a differsigns which consists in tracing or otherwise transferring the outline of a picture upon the screen and then masking out each color area with a different masking material, each masking material being soluble and each soluble by a different solvent, the solvent of one material not-affecting any other and vice versa.

5. A method of masking screens for the reproduction of multi-color pictures or designs which consists in outlining the dif ferent color areas of the picture to be re produced upon the screen, blocking all of said color areas except one, and each area with "a different material, dissolving the blocking material of the next area to be run when the first color has been transferred, then masking the first area which remains open with the same material as that dissolved out of the second area, and then proceeding until all colors have been run in such a manner that the masking materials will be shifted from one area to another after each color run.

6. A method of masking screens for the reproduction of multi-color pictures or designs which consists in outlining the different color areas of the picture to be reproduced upon a screen, masking out all color areas except one and each area with a different blocking material and each material soluble with a solvent that does not affect any of the other blocking materials, and then opening the next color area to be run after the first color has been run by dissolving the masking material.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JACOB HSTEINMAN.

Witnesses:

W. W. HEALEY, M. E. EWING. 

